Non-detachable tear flap and tab for containers

ABSTRACT

A metal end panel for containers has a scored push in flap and an anchored superposed complimented push-in tab with a finger guide, the tab sloping upwardly toward the chuck wall and at the region of its highest elevation having a lance thus providing a structure which can be opened with a natural motion in that the user merely pushes inwardly on the container causing the lance to initiate rupture of the score and thereafter further pressure of the tab tears the flap out of the panel and swings it inwardly with the tab while concurrently elongating a curled anchor which secures the tab to the container.

June 3, 1975 United States Patent [191 Chiappe NON-DETACHABLE TEAR FLAP AND TAB FOR CONTAINERS Primary ExamincrGeorge T. Hall Attorney. Agent, or Firm-John Jr Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittmann Inventor: Wayne T. Chiappe. Hinsdale, Ill.

Assignee: Continental Can Company. Inc" New York, NY.

Nov. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 418,322

[57] ABSTRACT A metal end panel for containers has a scored push in [22] Filed:

flap and an anchored superposed complimented pushin tab with a finger guide, the tab sloping upwardly toward the chuck wall and at the region of its highest el- 82 60 8 2 U la 04 2. 4 2 52 1 1D 23 "17 flu "007 7. 47- 7- "1 1 .a 78 x :U n 2w 0 22 2 U .2 2 U" m mh U r. n a n & a M 5 mJm U .lF. T Hod 5 55 panel and swings it inwardly with the tab while con- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS currently elongating a curled anchor which secures the tab to the container.

3.472.415 10/1969 wmdrurrumu.........v....u... 220/48 3.628.695 12/1971 Bryant 220/42 x 4 D'awmg NON-DETACHABLE TEAR FLAP AND TAB FOR CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recent ecological demands and anti-litter laws necessitated designs of can opening devices which are attached to the container and which are not readily removable. Various solutions have been heretofore sug gested including the use of levers for breaking the flap from the panel and pushing it into the panel. Although such devices are functional, they require in many instances extensive education of the consumer public or are expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel trouble free snap-open closure which is relatively simple to manufacture and which is functionally easy to use.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel push-in closure which incorporates a finger guard in the tab so as to guide the finger into the container opening upon the underlying score flap being torn away from the panel.

The invention comprehends the provision of an end panel with a partial annular score defining the peripheral edge of a closure flap and in which the unscored area provides a hinge for the flap, the flap being opened by a tab which has a bottom portion superposed over the flap, the bottom portion having a raised peripheral bead forming a finger-receiving cavity forming a guard.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel push-in type of closure defined by a score in an end panel, the closure upon being pushed through the panel provides a pour opening, said closure comprising a tab which is anchored at one end and has its other end raised and provided with a lance for rupturing the score, the tab being inclined upwardly from its anchor end so as to minimize the extent to which the user has to push his finger into the opening to swing the tab and closure into the container.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more readily apparent from the specifications and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container such as a metal can incorporating the invention showing the closed position of the novel closure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the top end of the container showing the closure in the open position;

HO. 3 is a perspective view of the end panel taken from the bottom side thereof with the closure in open position; and,

Flg. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken essentially on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The novel closure generally designated 2 is shown in association with an end panel 3 of a container 4 which has a cylindrical body 5 joined to the panel 3 by a chime 7.

The chime 7 merges with an annular chuck wall 8 oriented axially of the container and joins a ledge wall 9 which extends transaxially of the body 5.

The ledge wall 9 is formed substantially centrally thereof with an integral rivet 10 which extends through an opening 11 in an anchor lug l2 ofa push tab generally designated 13. The rivet is headed at 12' to secure the tab 13 to the end panel.

The push tab anchor lug 12 has a curled or offset portion 14 connected to a circular button portion 15 of the tab, the portion [5 being nested at its juncture with the anchor lug within an upwardly upset annular rim 17 formed in the ledge wall of the panel about a closure flap 20 which is integrated with the ledge panel by a circumscribing weakening crush type score 22 generally of C shape which extends almost completely around the flap except for a small break which is not scored and which provides a hinge 24 by means of which the flap 20 is attached to the ledge wall of the end panel.

The flap is adapted to be pushed inwardly by the overlying metal button portion 15 which is in the shape ofa disk with a guide structure 25 formed thereon and comprises an annular raised bead 27 which defines a finger admitting pocket 28 for guiding or locating the users finger therein. This guide structure 25 is located adjacent to a lance 30 which is integral with the button portion 15 and disposed diametrically opposite to the anchor portion on the forward edge of the flap. The lance 30 has a narrow profile and slopes downwardly and forwardly from the button disk and projects into the score 22 at a point diametrically opposite to the hinge section 24 and the extent of the lance 30 is such that the button slopes upwardly and outwardly from the anchor portion at an angle of between 25 to 30 to the plane of the ledge wall. This feature thus locates the logical pressure point for the user adjacent to the lance 30 and in an obvious position for the user to apply force. Furthermore, the inclined disposition of the button locates it in a position such that the lance which is disposed at about l00 to I20 to the plane of the button causes the flap to rupture in an area in diametrical alignment with the hinge section and since the arc of movement of the tab is greater and from a different center than that of the flap inasmuch as the hinge area of the tab to its forward edge is shorter than the distance from the hinge area of the tab at the curled position 14 to the nose 34 of the tab, the tab will slide forwardly with respect to the flap as the latter is being swung inwardly. Thus, the lance will position in front of the forward edge of the flap and the annular button position will directly overlie the flap, and the flap position is always under the control of the tab which serves as a shield and prevents exposure of any raw edges.

It will be noted that as the tab swings inwardly through the pour aperture 35 when the score is broken, the anchor portion 14 thereof will deform and stretch as it wraps about the rim at 36 as best seen in FIG. 2 whereby at that time, the tab portion 25 and the flap swing about an essentially common axis, it being noted that the axis of pivot of the tab portion 25, thus has shifted and therefore once the covering relationship is established the tab and the flap do not have relative movement transaxially and any differential in the location of SLlCll axis is taken up by the elongation of the curl portion 14.

It will be apparent that a preferred construction has been disclosed by way of illustration and not limitation and that the scope of the invention is to be determined on the basis of the appended claims:

I claim:

1. An easy opening container comprising an end panel having a portion defining a flap severable from the panel to provide an opening and having a tab artchored to the container, said tab having a disk-like flapoverlying portion with finger-protection means comprising a depression thereon for retaining the finger of a user in essentially centered relation to the flapoverlying portion which upon entering the opening maintains the finger away from the edge of said openmg.

2. An easy opening end panel for containers, said panel having a portion forming a flap severable from the container and joined thereto by means providing a hinge, said flap adapted to be torn from the panel and forced into the container with attendant bending of said hinge, and a tab overlying the flap having a hinge secured to the container, said tab swingable against the flap and therewith movable into the container, the hinge of the tab having an axis of pivot different than that of the flap hinge whereby said tab is movable translationally with respect to said flap, and means on the tab remote from said axis of pivot thereof for rupturing the flap from the panel and operative as a consequence of differential of movement between the flap and tab to move the flap inwardly at a different rate than the tab.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab having a peripheral bead defining a finger-admitting cavity.

4. The invention according to claim 2 and said rupturing means comprising a lance extending at an obtuse included angle with respect to the plane of the tab.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and said tab described in its preopening position extending diagonally outwardly from the plane of the end panel and having a lance thereon diametrically disposed with respect to the hinge thereof and said lance extending from said tab toward said flap at a point diametrically disposed with respect to the hinge of the flap.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and said hinge on the tab being elongatable and overlapping the hinge of the flap and bendable thereover upon said tab and flap being pushed through said opening.

7. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab and flap diverging away from each other and one thereof having a portion extending toward the other in the region of maximum divergence and providing force transmitting means therebetween, whereby upon said tab being pushed toward the flap force is concentrated at said means to facilitate rupturing of the flap and tear out from the panel.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and said force transmitting means extending at an obtuse included angle to the plane of the tab and at an acute included angle to the plane of the flap and said hinges being arranged to cause said means to initially advance toward the axis of the flap hinge as said flap and tab are pushed through the opening.

9. The invention according to claim 8 and said tab hinge having a curled portion adapted to be unfurled to elongate the hinge as said tab and flap are moved through said opening.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and said tab presenting a raised force-receiving area in the region remote from its hinge. 

1. An easy opening container comprising an end panel having a portion defining a flap severable from the panel to provide an opening and having a tab anchored to the container, said tab having a disk-like flap-overlying portion with finger-protection means comprising a depression thereon for retaining the finger of a user in essentially centered relation to the flap-overlying portion which upon entering the opening maintains the finger away from the edge of said opening.
 1. An easy opening container comprising an end panel having a portion defining a flap severable from the panel to provide an opening and having a tab anchored to the container, said tab having a disk-like flap-overlying portion with finger-protection means comprising a depression thereon for retaining the finger of a user in essentially centered relation to the flap-overlying portion which upon entering the opening maintains the finger away from the edge of said opening.
 2. An easy opening end panel for containers, said panel having a portion forming a flap severable from the container and joined thereto by means providing a hinge, said flap adapted to be torn from the panel and forced into the container with attendant bending of said hinge, and a tab overlying the flap having a hinge secured to the container, said tab swingable against the flap and therewith movable into the container, the hinge of the tab having an axis of pivot different than that of the flap hinge whereby said tab is movable translationally with respect to said flap, and means on the tab remote from said axis of pivot thereof for rupturing the flap from the panel and operative as a consequence of differential of movement between the flap and tab to move the flap inwardly at a different rate than the tab.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab having a peripheral bead defining a finger-admitting cavity.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 and said rupturing means comprising a lance extending at an obtuse included angle with respect to the plane of the tab.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 and said tab described in its preopening position extending diagonally outwardly from the plane of the end panel and having a lance thereon diametrically disposed with respect to the hinge thereof and said lance extending from said tab toward said flap at a point diametrically disposed with respect to the hinge of the flap.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 and said hinge on the tab being elongatable and overlapping the hinge of the flap and bendable thereover upon said tab and flap being pushed through said opening.
 7. The invention according to claim 2 and said tab and flap diverging away from each other and one thereof having a portion extending toward the other in the region of maximum divergence and providing force transmitting means therebetween, whereby upon said tab being pushed toward the flap force is concentrated at said means to facilitate rupturing of the flap and tear out from the panel.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 and said force transmitting means extending at an obtuse included angle to the plane of the tab and at an acute included angle to the plane of the flap and said hinges being arranged to cause said means to initially advance toward the axis of the flap hinge as said flap and tab are pushed through the opening.
 9. The invention according to claim 8 and said tab hinge having a curled portion adapted to be unfurled to elongate the hinge as said tab and flap are moved through said opening. 